„At that time, there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. This man was righteous and devout and awaited the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. He was told by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Savior sent by the Lord. Guided by the Holy Spirit, he came into the Lord's temple when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do according to the custom of the law for Him. He took Him in his arms, glorified God, and said: “Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace, as you have promised; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations—a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”(Luke 2:25–32*)
People today are quite impatient. If you disagree, just remember the last time you heated food in the microwave. Did you stand still for those few minutes, or did you tap your fingers and sigh with irritation?
No wonder the word of God contains so many examples of godly patience. Again and again, God the Father makes promises to His children, causing them to wait for years, sometimes decades, until He fulfills His promise. However, the result of this patience is always a blessing.
Consider how long Simeon waited to see Christ—to take the baby Jesus in his arms and prophesy about Him. For many decades he waited, holding firmly to the promise that he would not die before glimpsing the Savior (v. 26). Imagine waiting for such an extraordinary blessing day after day. For some people, it would be a challenge to continue believing the promise, but Simeon did not waver. And his reward was truly great.
Shortcuts rarely lead to where God wants us to go. However, many faithful servants of God have taken the long road. So, if you are waiting on the Lord today, be encouraged, because you are in good company.
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/worth-the-wait
*Bible quotations are from The Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013